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What saw to use to cut wood fiber boards? Terrace board installation technology

It should be said right away what KDP is. Wood-polymer composite or decking is a material with a high percentage of wood content that is easy to process. It can be easily sawed, planed, nails can be driven into it without effort, and screws can be screwed into it.

Wood-polymer composite is distinguished by its strength. It does not rot, it is not damaged by fungi and insects, so caring for it is very easy.

Should be considered

WPC is often used for outdoor decking. After installation, in two to three weeks, the composite board will change its color and become lighter by half a tone, maximum by a tone, but then during use the color will not change for many years.

The rough side of the material cannot injure your leg or arm.

Installation of WPC can be done by a person even without special skills.

Preparation for installation

Step one - preparing the base. It is best to make it from concrete with a thickness of at least 10 cm. It should be remembered that in order to avoid problems in the operation of this type of coating, well-made and technically competent drainage is necessary. The base should have a slope of 1-2 degrees.
Step two. Before installation, the wood-polymer composite must be brought into the room where it will be installed 2–3 days before installation. Experts strongly do not recommend installing WPC in the cold season, when the air temperature is below zero degrees.
Next step. If the areas where the composite is planned to be installed are dirty, then it is necessary to remove dust, sand, and soil.
WPC has two sides - smooth and textured. It is up to you to decide which side to lay the coating on.
You will need a special tool for laying wood-polymer composite, which should be purchased in advance. It will make the installation process easier.
Logs should be installed on the concrete base at a distance of 40 cm, no more.

Direct installation of WPC

As already noted, installation of a wood-polymer composite is simple and will not be difficult even for a beginner.

Be sure to take into account that the ends of long boards must rest on the joists and a gap must be left between them. During temperature changes, this will avoid deformation of the WPC.

The decking is laid on the joist and secured with a clip; perform the same operation with the next board. Upon completion of the installation of the board, we install the end caps.

Do not use deck boards (WPC) as structures bearing a constant significant load!!!

To install decking boards (decking) you will need:

Electric jigsaw, carbide circular saw, drill, screwdriver/driver, level, pencil, ruler or tape measure.

Accessories:

Additional information about decking boards:

The decking board can withstand a uniformly distributed load of up to 600 kg/sq.m. It is not recommended to lay the boards at temperatures below 0°C. 24 hours before installation, WPC products should be placed near the installation site to adapt to the environment. Check each board thoroughly before installation. The warranty does not apply to boards damaged prior to installation or installed in violation of these instructions. Products made from wood-polymer composite have a single color throughout the entire depth of the product. Under the influence of sunlight and the environment, natural fading is possible while maintaining the basic tone, which is not a defect and is inherent in any products made from wood.

1. Preparing the surface for installation:

Wood-polymer composite logs can be placed on the following types of surfaces:

on a continuous, flat and hard (reinforced) surface (for example, on a concrete screed) without potholes or cracks, with a slope of 1°-2° towards the drainage system to remove moisture. In this case, the logs should be placed longitudinally to the slope so as not to contribute to moisture retention (Fig. 1).
on concrete support beams embedded in the ground or on concrete slabs. The supporting surface of the concrete base must be at least 30x30 cm in size, with the distance between the two nearest supports on which one joist is located no more than 30-40 cm, the distance between two adjacent joists should also not exceed 30-40 cm. No joists must be in contact with the ground. If necessary, you can lay a film (geotextile, bitumen carpet) to prevent weeds from growing through the expansion gaps of the flooring (Fig. 2).
If you want to lay the decking on a surface that prevents it from breaking its tightness (that is, in conditions where it is impossible to attach the logs to the surface with self-tapping screws), it is possible to arrange a rigid frame made of metal (pipe, wood or other hard material) on legs with a wide base and rubber pads under them.
on support beams made of wood or metal. The base must be strong, even and frost-resistant. The distance between the support beams should not exceed 400-500 mm.


Fig.1	Fig.2

2. Installation of WPC logs:

the use of WPC logs when installing decking boards on any of the bases specified in paragraph 1 of these instructions will prevent damage to the surface of the flooring, since WPC logs absorb the negative impact on the board caused by deformation of the base material under the influence of climatic and temperature factors
the supporting logs should not be too long (no more than 3000mm), which ensures the stability of the flooring when weather and temperature conditions change.
the entire flooring must be well ventilated, for which it is necessary to maintain a gap between the flooring and the mounting surface (ground) of at least 3 cm.
support logs must be installed at the same level, the distance between the logs is 300-400 mm. (Fig. 3) Attach the joist directly to the base using self-tapping screws with plastic dowels. When laying the decking obliquely (at an angle of 45°), the distance between the joists should be halved. At the joints of the decking profile ends, it is necessary to lay a double row of support beams so that each end of the board rests on its own support beam. The width of the gap between the rows of support joists should be 3-5 mm. (Fig.4)
logs should be installed with a small gap at the ends - 3-5 mm.
in places where the WPC board is installed next to a wall (curbs, fences, pipes and other fixed barriers), the gap between the edge of the surface of the support beam and the board should be at least 25 mm. (Fig. 5).


Fig.3

Fig.4	Fig.5

3. Installation of boards on joists:

the boards are laid perpendicular to the joists.
Installation of the first row of boards is carried out using a starting clamp. Subsequent rows of boards are installed using a T-shaped plastic clamp, which provides an even, stable thermal seam of approximately 5 mm. Fastening the log to the mounting base and fastening the T-shaped plastic clamp to the log should take into account the possible expansion of the wood-polymer profile and should not be too tight (Fig. 6). In addition, tightening the screws too tightly reduces the tensile strength and may cause subsequent damage.
When installing decking, it is recommended to use stainless steel self-tapping screws.
When installing, it is necessary to maintain end thermal gaps of 3-5 mm between the boards (Fig. 4).
The length of the board should not protrude beyond the last row of support joists by more than 1 cm.
When laying the last row of boards, where the edge cannot be fixed with a clamp, it is allowed to screw in a self-tapping screw on the side of the main profile of the board at a distance of 2-3 mm from the edge.
Do not glue the boards together.


Fig.6	Fig.7

4. After installing the decking, an end strip is attached to the supporting joists (Fig. 7).

When laying terrace decking at ground level, it is advisable to provide a demarcating stone border, etc., to avoid direct contact between the decking and the lawn or soil.

Material consumption rate:

Consumption rates for standard installation 1 sq.m.
Terrace board - 6.9 m.
Mounting log - 3.3 m.
Plastic T-shaped clamp - 20 pcs., starting clamp - 3 pcs.
Self-tapping screws - 26 pcs.
We recommend taking into account a material reserve of 5%.

Rules for storing and caring for decking boards:

When storing the decking and when unloading it at the installation site, make sure that the boards are stacked on a flat surface.

Do not allow tools or other accessories that could damage the surface to move freely across the decking surface.

Avoid contact of the decking surface with construction debris.

If the flooring is dirty, you can carry out both dry and wet cleaning using cleaning products (with the exception of alkaline and abrasive products). In both cases, you can use a soft brush.

39571 0

Before attaching the decking board, you must remember that this material, well known as “garden parquet,” has not only a number of undeniable advantages, but also some disadvantages that must be taken into account during the installation process.

Decking, or decking board, belongs to the category of relatively new finishing materials with high quality characteristics, which makes it relevant for use in conditions of frequent precipitation, significant temperature changes and under the influence of direct rays of sunlight. This type of finish is also in demand in places with very high traffic rates.

Scope of application

Most often used as flooring on open terraces of personal plots and areas adjacent to cottages. Terrace decking is widely used when arranging flooring on roofs, open balconies or loggias, and verandas. Recently, the material has been increasingly used in the design of garden paths and areas around outdoor swimming pools.

Decking has proven itself to be a convenient and safe covering for a playground, pier or pier, and can also be used to create patios for restaurants or cafes. Somewhat less commonly, terrace boards are used as cladding for the façade of buildings.

Advantages and disadvantages

A high-quality decking board, in addition to being highly environmentally friendly, has the following advantages:

long service life exceeding thirty years;
anti-slip surface;
no need to perform protection using chemicals, as well as painting or varnishing;
wide selection of decorative qualities;
pleasant but unobtrusive aroma of natural wood;
pleasant tactile properties;
high level of temperature resistance ranging from minus 60°C to plus 80°C;
immunity to the negative effects of bacterial flora;
ease of processing, including cutting and drilling;
simplicity and accessibility of independent installation and dismantling.

The standard sizes and main characteristics of decking produced by domestic and foreign manufacturers are as follows:

thickness 2.2-2.8 cm;
width 13.5-14.7 cm;
length 1.5-6.0 m.

The disadvantage of this material can be considered its rather high cost, as well as its susceptibility to patination, which consists in the formation of a silvery shell-film on the surface. The coating produced with the addition of plastics is completely devoid of the external and tactile qualities of natural material.

Popular types

Depending on the purpose of application and quality characteristics, as well as the features of the manufacturing technology of the finishing material, decking boards can be presented in several types:

Planken or beveled board is a facing material designed for finishing both outside and inside the room. This type of decking board is perfect for partial or complete cladding of residential premises, gazebos and fences. Straight plank often has grooves to facilitate installation work. Beveled planks have rounded or beveled sides, allowing for overlapping installations and good coverage of gaps.

Production Features

Recently, the growth trend in the volume of individual development has clearly emerged and become very stable. This situation has allowed both domestic and foreign manufacturers to quickly respond to basic consumer requests, replenishing the market with new and promising, high-quality materials.

In the manufacture of such finishing and building materials, exclusively strong wood is used. Foreign manufacturers take tropical wood as the basis for their products, while domestic materials are most often made from conifers, oak or ash. Production is based on mandatory processing under high-temperature conditions, including hot steam.

Technology based on sawdust makes it possible to obtain an aesthetic building and finishing material with fairly high strength and uniformity. In this case, wood processing waste is supplemented with special polymer additives, as a result of which it is possible to obtain a WPC material, which is called deck or composite decking. A special feature of such decking boards is their very high reliability and the absence of any deformation changes under the influence of negative external factors.

Selection rules

Natural wood has a number of disadvantages, the most important of which is the need to constantly impregnate the material with an antiseptic and cover it with decorative and protective compounds.

It is quite problematic to carry out such activities from the inside, so wood-polymer composites were developed as an alternative. In such decking, the proportion of wood can vary between 38-68%, and about 4% is made up of coloring pigments. The rest of the finishing material is substituted with polymers.

Polymer decking boards are presented on the construction market in a wide selection and a rich range of colors. When choosing, it is recommended to pay attention to well-known brands that receive positive reviews:

Terranson is one of the large and popular manufacturers producing composite finishing boards using environmentally friendly and high-quality raw materials;
composite finishing materials from the Belgian company Bruggan have proven themselves to be a reliable and durable material;
the Rehau company has been producing decking boards for just under ten years and occupies a leading position in the production of garden parquet;
OLYMPIYA decking board has a special profile, therefore it is used when installing on objects with a high level of traffic and high impact loads;
in works related to the finishing of a pier, bridge, pier, terrace, garden path, as well as the roofing system in use, Darvolex decking boards have proven themselves best;
the Hungarian company Legro also produces decking boards that are free from such shortcomings as rotting and delamination. This high-quality material has the advantage of good resistance to any type of mechanical damage, as well as the negative effects of rain and sun.

It is important to remember that the decking used to finish the flooring in the sauna and the area around the pool must have a corrugated profile. This guarantees a reliable anti-slip effect.

Prices for different types of decking boards

Terrace board

Self-installation technology

Modern decking boards are a unique material in their characteristics, but they need to be properly used when carrying out finishing work. Only correctly performed independent installation will ensure that the surface retains absolutely all the unique performance qualities declared by the manufacturer over a long period. Before assembling a structure based on a terrace board, it is recommended to allow the material to acclimatize well under the conditions of intended use for a couple of days.

Basic set of materials and tools

Regardless of the installation option and type of decking board, you will need to prepare a starting set of material and working tools in advance:

support beams;
initial and intermediate staples;
galvanized screws and self-tapping screws;
standard plugs;
end finishing materials;
galvanized or stainless steel corners;
electric drill and standard set of drills;
screwdriver or screwdriver;
measuring construction tape and meter level;
pencil or construction marker;
hand saw.

The basic set can be supplemented depending on how the finishing material is intended to be installed and fastened.

Prices for popular drill models

Correct calculations

There are two ways to lay deck boards. When installed openly, the board is fixed on the joists from the front side using anti-corrosion galvanized screws. The closed installation option will require fixing the boards on the joists using clips on the inside.

Flooring length in accordance with the direction of the decking board	Board length	Recommended installation clearance
No more than 600 cm	Less than 400 cm	0-0.4 cm
No more than 600 cm	400-600 cm	0-0.4 cm
From 600 cm to 10 m	Less than 400 cm	0.5 cm
From 600 cm to 10 m	400-600 cm	0.5 cm
More than 10 m	Less than 400 cm	0.6 cm
More than 10 m	400-600 cm	0.9 cm

The gap between the installed decking and the wall must be 0.8 cm or more. When joining elements along the length, the standard space left between the end parts should be as follows:

with a flooring length of 400 cm – absent;
with a flooring length of 400-600 cm - 0.3 cm;
with a flooring length of more than 600 cm - 0.45 cm.

To perform longitudinal adjustment of terrace boards to each other, it is necessary to leave a gap of 0.2 cm. For self-installation, several types of deck board fixation can be used, represented by “classic”, “twin-mini”, “nail-pro” and twin-version . The appearance of such a fastener is represented by a metal plate coated with special anti-corrosion compounds. To fix a square meter of finishing you will need about two dozen fasteners. Mounting into a clip, which is located on the joists, is also often used.

Preliminary surface preparation

The most important condition for the correct installation of decking boards is the competent arrangement of the most reliable base base, which can be represented by the following types:

cement screed treated with bituminous compounds;
wooden logs treated with antiseptics and painted;
metal beams resistant to corrosion.

It is mandatory to treat the base from any weeds and use any high-quality material that prevents the germination of weeds.

Step 1. The soil surface is leveled and its high-quality compaction is carried out using vibratory ramming.

Step 2. Backfill onto a leveled and compacted surface with a crushed stone or gravel layer 10-12 cm thick. A five-centimeter layer of sand is poured on top of such a backfill.

Step 3. Installation of reinforcing mesh on top of the sand and gravel cushion. The foundation can be represented by continuous concreting or concrete slabs under the logs.

Step 4. Ensuring the immobility of the base with the help of special adjustable supports, for fastening of which reliable and high-quality dowels are used.

Step 5. You need to place logs on the adjustable supports perpendicular to the direction of the decking board. Such elements are laid strictly parallel to each other, with a distance of 400-700 mm. The supports are secured with galvanized screws and dowels. Straight and oblique corners are used to connect each other.

Joist fastening, diagram

Before installing WPC decking, you need to develop a drainage system that will protect the soil from swelling during a thaw. The base should be made with a slight slope towards the drainage system. The standard slope is 10 mm per meter of surface.

Installation on concrete base

One of the mandatory rules for installing decking boards on a concrete base is to ensure high-quality waterproofing with waterproofing. Installation of boards should begin from the walls, retreating at least 0.8 cm.

Step 1. Install the first board with a tenon joint towards the wall and fix it using fasteners. The recommended mounting distance is 30-35 cm.

Step 2. The side of the board that is closer to the wall must be pressed against the concrete base using a plinth. It is considered optimal to use good quality plastic skirting boards.

Step 3. Installation of the next flooring element, which must be driven with a tenon into the groove of the previous board, maintaining a distance of 0.2 cm. The installed element is secured with dowel nails.

Step 4. Install the following decking boards in the same way. Joining along the length of the finishing flooring from boards less than 400 cm long is carried out by fitting the elements closely. When fitting longer boards, the elements must be joined with a gap of 0.45 cm. The joint areas of different boards should not coincide. The minimum distance between the joining zones is 20-25 cm.

The edges of the decking can be secured using aluminum corners 30x30 mm. The open edge with the “spike” is secured with a screw, the head of which is masked by a chamfer. The edge part is closed with an aluminum corner.

Video - Installation of WPC siding

Installation on a wooden base

If there is a base for the flooring, represented by a wooden sheathing or a solid flooring, it is advisable to use galvanized screws to fix the decking board. If a non-solid version of a wooden base is used, then it must be treated with antiseptics and painted. Installation of flooring based on terrace boards is carried out at standard intervals of 10-15 cm. The technology for installing elements is the same as when installing flooring on a concrete base.

Features of open and closed installation

Open installation of decking boards or decking is used most often. This technology resembles the installation of a standard floorboard, but galvanized fasteners are used for fixation, the holes for which must be drilled in advance.

Closed installation is in demand when it is necessary to obtain durable and decorative flooring with absolutely invisible fastenings. This installation option is considered to be the most complex, and a feature of the technology is the preliminary installation of hidden square-shaped stainless steel fastening brackets on the joists.

Step 1. Make grooves on the side of the installed decking boards. The standard groove depth should be approximately 2.5 cm.

Step 2. Place special plates in the grooves that are made to ensure fixation of the finishing material.

Step 3. Joining deck boards using plates. This method of joining allows you to get a completely smooth and beautiful flooring.

The last board is fastened through with self-tapping screws, the pitch is 40 cm

The hidden installation method is more labor-intensive and, as a rule, is not used when doing flooring yourself.

Prices for popular models of screwdrivers

Screwdrivers

Finishing the facade with terrace boards

Step 1. Installation of insulation. Fixation is carried out using glue and dowels with a metal rod.

Step 2. Installation of sheathing made of dried wooden beams 50x50 mm. Double strips are installed in the corners. Similar double strips are attached in the places where the ends of the cladding panels will be located. Fixation is carried out with dowel nails through pre-drilled holes.

Step 3. Installation of starting aluminum profile. Through the holes, the profile is attached to the sheathing posts using self-tapping screws.

Step 4. Installation of corner profiles. All self-tapping screw heads must be recessed.

Step 5. Installation of the first panel. The connection is made using a tongue-and-groove system. Each strip is fixed with a special clip.

The appearance of decking boards on the modern building materials market has made it possible to assemble a base indoors and outdoors that, in terms of its characteristics, is not inferior to any known floor covering. Despite its apparent simplicity, installing decking boards is not the easiest process. Although if you understand the installation technology and understand all the nuances of the processes being carried out, then even a beginner can handle it. Therefore, in this article we will consider the types of this building material and the technology for its installation.

Terrace boards, also known as deck boards, also known as decking, are planks of certain sizes. They are made from two raw materials.

Solid wood

For this purpose, different types of wood are used: traditional and exotic. There are two types of board processing: smooth (called planken), corrugated (called corduroy). The sizes of decking boards are wide variety, where the length varies between 1.5-4 m, width 100-200 mm, thickness 20-30 mm.

Wooden decking board

Before use, wooden panels must be treated with antiseptics and fire retardants: the first is bioprotection, the second is fire protection. Please note that solid wood decking must have a certain moisture content: classic species - 12%, exotic - 15%. This indicator can be measured directly in the store using a hygrometer.

The advantages of wood decking include:

naturalness of the raw material;
the ability to change the texture of the floor covering by applying varnish, paint, wax and others;
good resistance to various types of loads: abrasion, shock, temperature changes;
it is a frost-resistant material;
wooden planks do not slip either dry or wet;
laying of deck boards is carried out using fasteners offered by manufacturers (staples, clamps) or ordinary wood screws.

Flaws:

high humidity and direct contact with water causes warping of the boards, their rotting and cracking;
will have to be constantly treated with protective compounds.

Wood-polymer composite

The raw material is WPC - a mixture of polymer (polypropylene, polyethylene and others) with wood flour. The latter is 30% of the total volume. Pigments and various fillers are added to the composition.

Today, manufacturers offer two types of WPC decking: solid and hollow. Based on their strength, they are divided into two groups: household and commercial. The former are much cheaper than the latter. The color scheme is 40 shades, which makes it possible to choose the material in accordance with the landscape design or interior of the room.

Hollow WPC strip

The standard size of the material is quite wide: length up to 6 m, width up to 160 mm, thickness up to 28 mm. It is necessary to understand that the modern market is filled not only with bars from responsible manufacturers. There are many cheap, low-quality products available, so it is important to choose a material with good appearance and accurate dimensions.

Advantages of WPC:

presentable appearance;
variety in texture design: smooth, aged, matte, varnished;
100% water resistant;
excellent biostability;
the surface does not slip;
withstands loads up to 500 kg/m²;
operating temperature: from -20C to +40C;
service life – up to 15 years;
practicality - can be cleaned with any household detergents.

Flaws:

under the influence of sunlight, the coating gradually fades;
under the influence of shock loads, chips and cracks may form;
not the easiest installation process.

Terrace board installation technology

We proceed directly to the analysis of the installation of decking boards. Like all construction processes, it is divided into two main stages: preparation and laying of material with fastening to the base.

Preparation

Preparation includes the construction of a reliable and level foundation. There are several options, but more often the decking boards are laid on a concrete base. It should not only be smooth and durable, but also dry. If the construction of the flooring is carried out on the ground, then in this case it is also necessary to take care of the strength of the base under the laid logs. To do this, you can use concrete products: paving slabs, blocks, etc., laid under the terrace.

Regarding the preparation of tools. To install the decking board you will need:

screwdriver,
saw or jigsaw;
mallet and hammer;
tape measure, iron ruler, pencil,
building level.

Attention! If a structure made from decking boards is assembled outdoors, care must be taken that the concrete base has a slight slope to drain away precipitation. If the assembly is carried out on the ground, then several grooves 3 cm wide and 2 cm deep should be made under the flooring.

Project development

An important stage on which the appearance of the flooring and its reliability depend. What you need to pay attention to:

Distance between joists: 40 cm for hollow boards, 50 cm for solid boards.
Gap between flooring parts: 1-3 mm for indoor use, 4 mm for outdoor use.
If the terrace boards are laid diagonally, then the distance between the logs is reduced: at an installation angle of 45° within 25-30 cm, at an angle of 30° - 15-20 cm.

We proceed directly to the construction of decking on the terrace from decking boards. Let's consider the installation of WPC planks, because this process requires certain skills and the use of special fasteners.

Technology for installing WPC boards

Laying lags

WPC lining logs are used as support for the decking board. They are not load-bearing structures; they serve as leveling elements. They should not be embedded in concrete mortar or fastened together. The lags can be laid in height or width. The distance between the logs is no more than 40 cm.

Attaching the log

The lags are fastened to the concrete base using metal dowels. To do this, drill a hole in the joist itself (the diameter is 2 mm larger than the diameter of the dowel), and through it there is also a hole in the concrete structure. A dowel is inserted inside and secures the joist to the concrete base.

Starter brackets

At one end of the lag you need to install special starting brackets made of metal, which are attached to the lags with self-tapping screws (3.5x30 mm). The bracket should protrude slightly beyond the end of the joist so that the decking board fits exactly in the same plane with the end.

Laying the boards

The installation is carried out so that the upper edges of the metal brackets fit into its groove. This will be the fastening on the end side.

Mounting clips

Various fasteners are used to connect the boards together. One option is a plastic mounting clip. They are attached to the joists with 3.5x30 mm self-tapping screws. The fasteners are inserted with one side inside the already fixed decking board. The fastening is carried out in such a way that the clip can move slightly in the vertical plane. In this case, the head of the screw should protrude on the mounting surface of the clip by 2-3 mm.

Continuing the installation process

The next panel is installed next to the panel fixed to the joists. It is important to dock them so that the mounting clips fit tightly into the groove of the second floor element.

Tightening screws

After laying the deck boards, you need to tighten all the screws that were used to secure the mounting clips until they stop. The work requires accuracy.

This is what the dowel looks like

If the installation of terrace boards is carried out inside heated rooms, where the humidity difference is insignificant, then the assembly of the boards can be carried out in a gap-free manner. For this purpose, special plastic fasteners are used - dowels. They are secured into the groove of the material with self-tapping screws. The place where the dowel is attached is the middle of the distance between the lags.

Terrace boards are attached to the joists with self-tapping screws (3.5x30 mm) through a groove. It is not worth putting effort into this type of work. This may cause the flooring material to crack. In addition, tight screwing reduces tensile strength.

Fastening with self-tapping screws

The latter is attached to the joists with a starting bracket.

Securing the last board in the decking

To create an aesthetic appearance of the external contours of the flooring, special plastic plugs are used.

Decorative plugs

The plugs are installed from the end and secured with blows of a mallet. The work is not difficult, the main thing is not to score too much.

Installation of plugs

For decorative finishing, you can use an aluminum corner coated with an anti-slip compound.

Decorative corner

The corner is attached to the terrace covering with self-tapping screws, for which holes are previously made.

Corner installation

As you can see, the technology for laying decking boards is simple. It should be noted that there are many ways to attach the lag to the base. There is not only a direct connection through dowels, you can use mounting angles or clamps for this. The photo below shows one of these methods.

Attaching the log to the base using a special mounting angle

Watch the video on how to lay a wooden decking board using special fasteners.

WPC parquet assembly technology

The technology for assembling deck boards with your own hands differs from installing WPC parquet. Because the latter is assembled using the puzzle assembly method.

This is what a WPC parquet board looks like.

This is what the reverse side of the parquet flooring looks like.

This flooring material consists of a base and parquet. The latter are easily detached from the base, and they are just as easily connected to it. Type of fastening - insertion of tenons into grooves.

Shield assembly

The shield has two adjacent edges with mounting lugs with holes. The other two adjacent edges have round spikes.

The essence of connecting two parquet panels is that the tenons of one element must fit into the mounting grooves of the second. Therefore, it is important to accurately orient the panels relative to the fasteners.

Installation process

If you need to trim parquet or make a cutout in a panel, you can use a regular saw.

Trimming panels with a saw

WPC parquet produces an aesthetic, non-slip flooring base with excellent performance characteristics. There is no need to attach the flooring material to the base.

Finishing summary

Facade finishing

Terrace boards can also be used for finishing facades. Only such material is called façade board. It is practically no different from the floor one, and the installation technology is identical. Only the logs are installed vertically in the plane of the facade wall.

Various fasteners are used to attach the façade board to the sheathing. One of them is a metal L-shaped product with a spike.

The first lower strip is attached to the sheathing with self-tapping screws directly along the outer plane. After which the fastening element is installed at the end of the plank so that its second bent plane rests against the side plane of the sheathing strip.

Using a nail, the fastening element is attached to the end of the façade plank.

The second nail is driven into the sheathing.

The second board is laid on top of the first, pressing it against the sheathing.

The upper bar is driven into the tenon of the fastener. For this, a mallet and a wooden block are used. The blows should be carried out closer to the locations of the frame slats.

This is what the façade wall should look like after finishing:

Typically, finishing in this way is a subtype of ventilated facades. Between the facing material and the wall there remains a space from which moist air vapors penetrating from the interior of the building are removed upward without settling on the surface of the wooden cladding. Often thermal insulation is laid under the façade cladding.

Photo review of finished floor coverings

So, it’s not difficult to lay a decking board with your own hands. Here are some photos showing where this material can be used.

Finishing the floor of an open terrace

Deck slats laid around the pool

An original scheme for laying boards on a pedestal in the form of an open area for recreation

Finishing the local area with the installation of lighting in the form of spotlights built into the floor

Outdoor recreation area of a country house, covered with a terrace board

WPC floor in a restaurant

Terrace flooring between two hotel buildings

Relaxation area in a hotel, covered with terraced flooring with tables arranged in the same material

An original solution for an outdoor dining area in a suburban area

Larch decking for finishing a large area

Today, wood-polymer composite deck boards are widely used for arranging terraces, verandas, swimming pools and other premises. This material combines the positive properties of wood and plastic. Shredded wood and purified polymer give the material high strength and efficiency. From the outside, decking resembles an ordinary wooden deck board, but its properties are significantly superior to it. At the same time, it can be painted, varnished and other compositions. First of all, you should understand the question of how to attach a plastic decking board.

Before fastening, you should determine a suitable place for laying the decking board. So, for loggias, balconies and other places with little traffic, you can choose medium-density material. This type of decking board is also used when arranging the area near the pool.

Important! Moisture resistance directly depends on the density of the flooring. Density also affects wear resistance. If you install a loose deck board in areas with high traffic, the material may become deformed.

Laying the flooring directly on the ground is not allowed. The deck boards are fastened to installed logs. They will perform a supporting function. If the selected location has uneven terrain, then preference is given to adjustable logs.

To prevent water from accumulating during rain, but rather from draining, when installing the logs, it is necessary to organize a slight slope in one direction. The pitch of laying the lag will depend on the thickness of the product. If it has a thickness of up to 20 mm, then the step between the logs should be 400 mm. With a thickness of 25 mm, the pitch between the logs increases to 600 mm.

Advice! During the installation process, it is necessary to cut the material in order to adjust it to size. It is recommended to treat all cut ends with wax emulsion.

To secure the decking, it is recommended to use stainless steel fasteners and fastening materials. There are two known ways to attach deck boards: hidden and covered. As for the closed one, it is rarely used, although it has a number of positive aspects, in particular, an improved appearance after completion of installation work.

Required materials and tools

Regardless of the chosen fastening method, you should prepare tools and material for installation work. First of all, you should worry about the availability of the following materials/tools:

Support logs.
Intermediate and initial staples.
Galvanized self-tapping screws.
Plugs.
End finishing elements.
Set of drills.
Electric drill.
Screwdriver.
Roulette.
Level.
Pencil.
Hand hacksaw.

This is a basic set of what is needed when fastening larch decking boards. As for cutting decking, you can use a hand saw, but some experts successfully use an electric one. This significantly increases the pace of work. Before mounting the board, it is recommended to pre-make mounting holes. Otherwise, there is a possibility that the material will crack when tightening the screw.

Calculation features

There are a number of requirements and features that are important to consider before starting installation work. The technology requires a gap between the flooring and the wall. At a minimum, the gap should be about 8 mm or more. If it is necessary to join the board lengthwise, then an indentation should also be made between the end parts. There are even certain standards, namely, with a flooring length of up to 400 cm, it is absent, with a length of up to 600 cm, 3 mm, and with a length over 600 cm, 0.45 cm. A gap is also required on the longitudinal side, which is about 2 mm. The peculiarity of the fasteners used allows one or another gap to be formed in advance.

Preparation

Before installation, the used larch decking board must lie in the open air to get used to the local climate. To do this, you need to unpack the packaging and leave it under a canopy for several days. Before you start fastening, you should immediately decide which method you will use - closed or open.

If the choice fell on open installation, then self-tapping screws made of galvanized steel and with an anti-corrosion coating are required. Preliminary markings are made and all holes are pre-drilled. After this, all the screws are screwed to the installed joists.

As for the closed method, all fasteners will be hidden under the flooring. For this purpose, special fasteners are used, also called clips. Preference should be given to metal fasteners with anti-corrosion coating. About 20 clips are usually consumed per 1 m2.

Plus, you need to decide exactly how the board will be laid evenly, diagonally or otherwise.

Advice! You should choose the installation method that will result in the least amount of waste in the form of trimmings.

Frame installation

Having completed all the preparatory and calculation work, the first step is to install the base under the terrace board. The base can be metal/aluminum beams, wooden logs or cement screed, which must be treated with bituminous material.

Advice! The base should be covered with a special material. This will protect the finished coating from the germination of grass and other plants.

Before fixing the decking, you should consider a water drainage system. For this reason, the installation of the logs should be carried out at a slight slope. For one linear meter, the slope should be no more than 1 cm. With all this, there should be no accumulation of moisture not only on the flooring itself, but also under it.

Installation work

Below we will consider the option of attaching decking boards to logs made of wood-polymer composite. The essence of the technology is that the boards are laid perpendicular to the installed joists. Considering that a larger percentage of the composition in the decking board is wood, this material tends to expand and contract. As a result, it is necessary to leave a small gap between the lags in length of at least 10 mm and from the wall or other structures of at least 20 mm.

It is important to ensure that the entire floor covering is well ventilated. To do this, WPC logs are laid on supports made of metal or plastic. Plus, you need to make sure that each end of the wood-polymer board lies on the joist and does not hang down.

Advice! It is recommended to attach deck boards at a temperature of at least 5°C.

The first board should be fastened from a fixed side, for example, from a wall. The first board is secured with self-tapping screws at an angle of 45° to the support joists. The last board will be attached in the same way. Before tightening the screw, be sure to drill a mounting hole of the appropriate diameter. Each subsequent board will be fixed to the support joists using a special galvanized fastener. These clips can also be made of plastic. Their use allows you to create an equal gap along the entire length between the decking boards. For ease of installation, the board has a special groove into which the clip is fixed using a self-tapping screw. You should start attaching the clip from one edge and on each joist. But before that, it is important to make sure that the board is in place.

Advice! If you need to cover a large area, you can use the staggered installation method. In this case, each subsequent board will shift relative to the previous one by a certain distance.

During the installation process, you should not immediately get distracted and adjust each board to the size along the edges of the terrace. Afterwards, all protruding ends can be cut off in one cut with a circular saw. The result will be very beautiful.

Finishing touches

After all the work on fixing the turnkey deck boards has been completed, it is necessary to perform the final touch, which consists of processing all the ends. One way is to use a special decorative strip. To install it in the joist or end part of the board, you need to drill a hole for self-tapping screws to attach the plank. You can also use aluminum corners or special corners made of wood-polymer composite. Each decorative element should be secured in its place using fixed stops.

Common installation mistakes

During installation work, errors are made that affect performance characteristics. For example, in a hurry, people forget to make ventilation gaps between the joists along the entire length and between the walls. This may result in deformation of the laid flooring. Also, screws or self-tapping screws are clamped very tightly. Measures are needed in this matter.

Plus, the water flow is not properly organized. What’s even worse is that the flooring itself and the joists are installed strictly according to level. In this case, rainwater and other moisture will accumulate on the surface. Because of this, the decking board can absorb moisture. Although today there are types of decking boards that do not absorb moisture at all, they are quite expensive.

Violation of these rules can lead to irreparable consequences. Therefore, taking all precautions into account, the following should not be allowed:

Flooding of deck and joist structures with water for more than 4 days.
When cleaning the surface, it is unacceptable to use a metal scraper or spatula. They can damage the top layer of the decking board. It is best to use soft bristled brushes.

Conclusion

So, this article examined the features of how to install a decking board made of wood-polymer composite. Although the technology is not complicated, it requires attention. For this reason, we suggest that you further reinforce the entire theory with the prepared video material in this article.

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